Light from Above

Each time I photograph a high school wrestling match, Mark Mulligan inevitably asks me, “Is the gym dark? Are the kids lit by one light in the middle of the floor?” I’ve always said no, all the lights are on, and I’m doing a terrible job setting my custom white balance. This idea of a single-light situation was a myth, a white whale in my prep photography experience, a photographer’s dream.

On January 22, the dream became a reality. Lake Stevens High School has a flair for the dramatics, and I arrived to a completely dark gym with athletics supported by a single hanging light.

Photographing high school wrestling has it’s challenges. There are a lot of numbers, faces and names to keep up with while taking meaningful pictures, usually in a a less-than-desireable white balance. However, when the match is exposed by a single hanging light in a high school gymnasium, all gripes fade into the dark with the audience. Pictures immediately become more compelling, more dramatic, especially with rays of shadow cast from a giant metal hanging lamp. All of the sudden you feel like you are photographing in a movie.

Although the faces and feats of students is always primary in a situation like this, sometimes it is nice to climb into the stands for more interesting shots.”

Snohomish senior Joseph Proffit is awarded two points during his 145-pound match against Lake Stevens senior Jack LeBlanc on Jan. 22 at Lake Stevens High School. Proffit defeated LeBlanc 8-5, but the Vikings defeated the Panthers 58-12.